Richardson wins crown

In her welcome to the audience at the Miss Black Spartanburg Pageant, Jossalyn Richardson promised that the crowd would be able to distinguish one individual from 13 imitators by the end of the night.

Richardson did not disappoint, sweeping every individual category to become the new Miss Black Spartanburg Friday evening.

The theme of this year's pageant was "In a Class by Themselves." Richardson proved she was in a class by herself on Friday. The Spartanburg 18-year-old will use the $2,000 scholarship she won to help fund her education at the University of South Carolina this fall.

"My ultimate excitement would have to be knowing that I

reached the success I wanted to have," Richardson said.

Richardson said she felt "truly blessed" to have won the competition. "I asked God to let the favor fall and he did just that," she said.

The Epsilon Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity sponsored the pageant for the 30th year. Richardson will represent the fraternity at various social events over the next year. She also will visit schools and talk to youth.

Richardson won the talent competition by singing the gospel song "When the Saints Go to Worship." A black halter swimsuit helped her win the swimsuit competition. She rounded out her winnings with the Miss Congeniality Award, given to the contestant who judges determined best embodied the spirit of the pageant.

After Richardson won all the individual awards, the pageant became a race for second. Jennifer Bronson of Boiling Springs, a rising freshman at Converse College, claimed the title of first runner-up. Bronson, 18, will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The reigning Miss Black Spartanburg, Laketa Jeter, joined the talent show by singing "Amazing Grace."

Vernon Beatty, chairman of the pageant, said that working with all 14 young women had been a pleasure.

"It has been a great experience to see them blossom over the six-week period," Beatty said. "We would have been happy to have any one of them as our queen. It just so happened that Jossalyn rose above them all."

Abigail Tamm-Seitz can be reached at 562-7210 or abigail.tamm-seitz@shj.com.